Louis Roederer Cristal 1977

What the critics scored the 1977

One critic score is on record: 98/100, June 2017.

By score the 1977 ranks 2nd of 39 (tied with 1969, 1970, 1974 and 2018) scored Louis Roederer Cristal vintages, 2.1 points above their review-weighted 95.9.

The 1970s by score: 1970 98.0, 1973 94.0, 1974 98.0, 1975 94.0, 1976 95.0, 1977 98.0, 1978 93.2 and 1979 97.3. The 1977 shares the decade's top score.

One of the surprises in this tasting, the 1977 Cristal is shockingly beautiful. Delicate and gracious in the glass, the 1977 is a bit slow out of the gate, but then gains freshness and focus with air. Candied orange peel, hazelnut, dried flowers and dried herbs give the 1977 its striking aromatic lift. Wonderfully alive and nuanced in every way, the 1977 is formidable tonight. I don’t see the 1977 developing much from here, but it is undeniably gorgeous right now. Above all else, the 1977 offers superb persistence and mind-blowing finesse. In a word: sublime.

What drinkers rate it

88.5 out of 100 from 2 drinker ratings, the most recent in November 2022.

That is 9.5 points below the critics' score.

Drinker rank: 42nd of 44. The most-rated vintage has 559 ratings.

2 written notes, September 2013 to November 2022, rating it 83 to 94.

taste of raisins, autumn, yellow and brown apples. No bubbles left. In terms of taste, a wine that has gone a little past its peak.

Rousseau 2009 Horizontal Tasting: Golden with some youthful flashes of lighter colour. Nougat, ginger, citrus peel, oyster shell and earth - plenty of complexity. Very rich fruit still there on the palate combined with great acidity gives it beautiful length. Superb!

When to drink the 1977

2017 to 2027: 10 years, opening 40 years after the harvest.

Open at our 2026 snapshot, with 1 year to run.

Window length rank, longest first: 24th of 33 (tied with 1973, 1974 and 1982).

The 1977 against its neighbours

The 1977 beside its 4 nearest recorded years.

Here, by score, it places 1st of 5.